Connector terminal checking device and method of checking connector terminal

Abstract

A connector terminal checking device includes a base, a conduction checking part rotatably supported by the base to check the conductive condition of a connector to be checked, an abutting part attached to the base to come into contact with a rear end of the connector mounted on the conduction checking part arranged in a conduction check position, a compression spring for urging the conduction checking part against a stand-by position and a solenoid for holding the conduction checking part in the conduction check position when checking the connector. In an initial state of the device, the solenoid is not energized, so that the conduction checking part is moved in the stand-by position by the compression spring. After the connector is inserted into the conduction checking part, it is pressed to the conduction check position by an operator. During checking, the solenoid is energized to maintain the conduction checking part in the conduction checking position. After checking, the solenoid is inactivated, so that the conduction checking part is raised from the base by the compression spring.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A connector terminal checking device comprising: a base;   a conduction checking part supported by said base so as to rotate between a stand-by position where a connector having connector terminals is attached and detached and a conduction check position where the conductive condition of said connector terminals is checked, said conduction checking part being provided with pins for checking the conduction;   an abutting part attached to said base so as to come into contact with a rear end of said connector mounted on said conduction checking part arranged in said conduction check position, wherein said abutting part comprises abutting portions which are constructed so as to come into contact with the rear end of said connector and which are provided on respective upper ends thereof with slants for facilitating the contact of said abutting part with the rear end of said connector;   urging portion for urging said conduction checking part against said stand-by position; and   holding portion for holding said conduction checking part in said conduction check position when checking the conduction of said connector terminals.   
     
     
       2. The connector terminal checking device of claim 1, wherein said urging means comprises a compression spring. 
     
     
       3. The connector terminal checking device of claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises a solenoid. 
     
     
       4. The connector terminal checking device of claim 1, wherein said abutting part has a checker for detecting accessories of said connector to be checked. 
     
     
       5. The connector terminal checking device of claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises a solenoid, and wherein said abutting part has a checker for detecting accessories of said connector to be checked. 
     
     
       6. The connector terminal checking device of claim 1, wherein said conduction checking part is provided with an engagement pin and wherein said holding means further comprises a lock lever associated with said solenoid to allow said engagement pin to be engaged. 
     
     
       7. The connector terminal checking device of claim 1, wherein said lock lever is provided with a recess which is capable of engaging with said engagement pin. 
     
     
       8. The connector terminal checking device of claim 1, wherein said lock lever is provided in the vicinity of said recess with a slant for facilitating the engagement of said engagement pin into said recess. 
     
     
       9. A method of checking connector terminals with a connector terminal checking device having a base portion having a free end, a stay having a free end pivotably joined therewith at common ends thereof, a solenoid adapted to draw the free ends together, and a compression spring adapted to urge the free ends apart from a conduction check position to a stand-by position whereat the solenoid is not energized so that the stay is urged by the compression spring to increase the angle of the stay with respect to the base and the conduction checking part to which a connector is to be attached to and detached from, comprising the steps of: mounting the connector with terminals onto a conduction checking part supported by the stay;   pivoting the conduction checking part from the stand-by position to the conduction check position against an urging force of the compression spring so that a rear end of the connector abuts an abutting part of the checking device by energizing the solenoid;   checking the conduction of the connector terminals while holding the conduction checking part in the conduction check position; and   releasing the solenoid to return to the initial state.   
     
     
       10. A connector terminal checking device comprising: a base having a bottom wall and upstanding elongated side walls and an end closure wall joined to said bottom wall to form a channel having an open end facing said closure wall, and a pivot pin extending between said side walls and said open end;   a stay disposed in said channel and being rotatable about an axis provided by said pivot pin;   a conduction checking part supported by said stay so as to rotate between a stand-by position where a connector having connector terminals is attached and detached and a conduction check position where the conductive condition of said connector terminals is checked, said conduction checking part being provided with test pins for checking the terminal conduction;   a compression spring disposed between said stay and said base, disposed from said pivot pin in said channel and adapted to urge said stay outward from said base between said check position and said standby position;   an abutting part attached to said base so as to come into contact with a rear end of said connector mounted on said conduction checking part disposed in said conduction check position;   means for urging said conduction checking part against said stand-by position; and   means for holding said conduction checking part in said conduction check position when checking the conduction of said connector terminals.   
     
     
       11. The connector terminal checking device of claim 10, wherein the compression spring is a first compression spring and said urging means comprises a second compression spring. 
     
     
       12. The connector terminal checking device of claim 10, wherein said holding means comprises a solenoid. 
     
     
       13. The connector terminal checking device of claim 10, wherein said abutting part has a checker for detecting presence of accessories of said connector to be checked. 
     
     
       14. The connector terminal checking device of claim 10, wherein said abutting part comprises abutting portions which are constructed so as to come into contact with the rear end of said connector and which are provided on respective upper ends thereof with slants for facilitating the contact of said abutting part with the rear end of said connector. 
     
     
       15. The connector terminal checking device of claim 10, wherein said conduction checking part is provided with an engagement pin and wherein said holding means further comprises a lock lever associated with said solenoid to allow said engagement pin to be engaged. 
     
     
       16. The connector terminal checking device of claim 10, wherein said lock lever is provided with a recess which is capable of engaging with said engagement pin. 
     
     
       17. The connector terminal checking device of claim 10, wherein said lock lever is provided in the vicinity of said recess with a slant for facilitating the engagement of said engagement pin into said recess. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim 9, further including the step of detecting presence of connector accessories with an accessory presence checker.